Traveling Man

Back in June, just before I found out what was wrong with my knee, I told Robin that our family would host a flat traveler for her son, Pete.

The traveler showed up either the day before or the day after I had knee surgery, and that whole week is a blur in my brain.

The flat guy sat in an envelope on the kitchen table, and was gradually buried by stacks of paper... release notes from the hospital, post-surgical prescriptions and gauze pads and ace bandages and crutch padding and clean socks (don't ask). And all the incoming mail. And the debris that just seems to fall from people onto my table as they pass by like dirt falling from Charlie Brown's friend Pigpen.

Poor flat guy... I know he felt neglected. But it was just my knee and its lousy timing, that's all.

For two full weeks after the surgery, I hurt too much to go anywhere, and then, since I whined about it here, you already know I put my back out somehow just as my knee started feeling better. Of course.

I finally did go through the mess on my table and find the flat man. Alyssa volunteered to give him some color... after all, it's summer in Oregon. The only time we really see the sun. :)

Finally, I felt enough better at the end of last week to get out and do the tie dyeing at Tami's house.

That flat guy went with us. He's going home in a tie dyed shirt. :)




















On Tuesday of this week, we gave him the grand tour of the attractions in our area. Well, at least some of them.

We took him to Multnomah Falls . Stayed awhile and took some pictures. This was my favorite one. (He was headed up to that bridge with Matt and Lyssa when I took this shot. I'm still not ready to hike, and someone had to stay down below to take the picture...)














Then, we headed up the Columbia Gorge to Bonneville Dam, where he got to see one of the giant original turbines that originally lived in the dam.




















Then, we caught a picture of the huge spillways on the other side of the dam.














They're at peak capacity right now, sending water downriver. Sort of amazing to see, really. Doesn't he look surprised?

After our trip to Bonneville Dam, we drove back across the front of the dam (only way to get back and forth) to the fish hatchery, which is celebrating its 100th birthday this year.














We made one other stop on our way home, which Pete will have to wait to read about when the flat guy heads back home today. :)

Thank you Robin and Pete for allowing your flat guy to come visit us in Oregon. We had a good time hosting him once we got around to it. ;)